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english silent letters

Here’s a list of common English words that contain silent letters. If I had to guess, I say that ‘bomb’, ‘debt’ and ‘salmon’ are the most common offenders! 

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bomb, catacomb, climb, crumb, debt, doubt, dumb, lamb, limb, numb, plumber, subtle, thumb, tomb, womb

C

ascend, ascent, descent, fascinate, fluorescent, incandescent, miscellaneous, muscle, obscene, rescind, scene, scenario, scent, scissors

D

bridge, edge, handsome, handkerchief, sandwich, Wednesday

G

align, assign, benign, campaign, champagne, consignment, deign, design, foreign, gnarled, gnash, gnat, gnaw, gnome, high, light, malign, reign, resign, sign, sovereign 

H

aghast, exhaust, exhibition, ghastly, gherkin, ghetto, ghost, ghoul, heir, honest, honour, hour, rhinoceros, rhubarb, rhyme, rhythm, vehicle

business

knack, knapsack, knead, knee, knife, knight, knit, knob, knock, knoll, knot, know knowledge, knuckle

balm, calf, calm, chalk, could, folk, half, palm, salmon, should, stalk, talk, walk, would, yolk

N  

autumn, column, condemn, damn, hymn, solemn

P  

corps, coup, pneumatic, pneumonia, pseudonym, psychedelic, psychic, psychiatry, psychiatrist, psychology, psychologist, psychopath, psychosis, psychotherapy, pterodactyl, pterosaur, receipt

S  

aisle, apropos, debris, island, isle 

T  

apostle, asthma, ballet, bristle, bustle, bustling, castle, Christmas, fasten, glisten, gourmet, hasten, hustle, jostle, listen, moisten, mortgage, often, rapport, ricochet, rustle, soften, thistle, whistle, wrestle

W  

answer, sword, two, who, whole, wreck, wren, wrestle, wretch, wriggle, wrinkle, wrist, write, writhe, wrong, wrought, write,

 

This webpage is an excellent resource for English spelling and testing your spelling:

https://www.spellzone.com

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